On 11 May 330, the Emperor Constantine dedicated a new imperial capital on the site of the Greek town of Byzantium, on the Bosphorus, and named it Nova Roma, soon known as Constantinople. Its site controlled the sea route between the Black Sea and the Mediterranean and the land route between Europe and Asia, and was easier to defend and supply than Rome. Built with a Forum, a hippodrome and churches, it became the largest city in Europe. After the western empire collapsed, Constantinople remained the capital of the Roman, or Byzantine, Empire until its fall to the Ottomans in 1453.
Before and after
- from 320 CE to 550 CEGupta Empire
- 325 CEFirst Council of Nicaea
- 327 CEConstruction of Church of the Nativity
- c. 330 CEKing Ezana converts Aksum to Christianity
- 11 May 330 CEConstantine dedicates Constantinople
- 17 November 331 CEBirth of Julian
- 335 CEConstruction of Church of the Holy Sepulchre
- 22 May 337 CEDeath of Constantine the Great
- 339 CEBirth of Ambrose
More in Civilizations & archaeology
- from 31st century BCE to 14th century BCEConstruction of Stonehenge
- 13th century BCEAncient Celts
- 600 BCEFounding of Milan
- 80 CEThe Colosseum is inaugurated
- from 285 CE to 1453Byzantine Empire
- 25 March 421 CEFounding of Venice
The era
This moment belongs to the Ancient civilizations (3,200 BCE to 500 CE), writing, cities and empires. You can also browse everything in the 4th century.